Gas-generator.



No. 870,537. PATENTED NOV. 12, 1907.

R, M.- BIDELMAN.

GAS GENERATOR.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 31. 1902. RENEWED MAR.11, 1907.

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ROBERT M. BIDELMAN, OF ADRIAN, MICHIGAN.

GAS-GENERATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 12, 1907.

Application filed December 31. 1902. Serial No. 137.243. Renewed March ll, 1907. Serial No. 361,831.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, ROBERT M. BIDELMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Adrian, in the county of Lenawee, State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gas-Generators; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the acco1n panying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification,

This invention relates to a gas generator, more especially designed for generating gas from peat, corn stalks, bagasse and similar substances.

The invention consists in the construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully set forth and pointed out particularly in the claims.

The object of the invention is to provide a generator in which gas may be generated from materials containing a large percentage of moisture, so that all the gas producing properties of the materials may be utilized and the product rendered into a fixed gas for either fuel or illuminating purposes.

The above object is attained by the structure illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which is shown a central vertical sectional view through the apparatus embodying my invention.

Referring to the characters of reference, 1 designates an exterior casing preferably of sheet iron having a suitable lining of brick work 2. Within said brick work, at the bottom, is a combustion chamber 3 having a suitable grate 4 upon which the fuel (consisting of peat coal or analogous material) for generating the necessary heat is burned. Communicating with the combustion chamber is the stoke-hole 5 through which fuel is introduced. Below the grate is an ash-pit 6, and communicating therewith is a draft opening 7 adapted to introduce air under the grate to support combustion.

Above the combustion chamber is the ordinary checker-work 8 of refractory material, and above said checker work is a chamber 9 from which leads a pipe 10, adapted to communicate with the smoke pipe or flue, and having a sliding damper or gate 11 therein, whereby said pipe may be closed. Also communicating with the chamber 9 is a pipe 12 adapted to convey gas therefrom, and having therein a plug cock valve 13. The pipe 12 leads to an ordinary scrubber 14 into which the gas is discharged below the water line 15. Leading from said scrubber is the overflow pipe 16, and opening into said scrubber is an aperture through which it may be filled, and which is'closed by the plug 17. If desired, an inflow water pipe may be connected to the scrubber to maintain a continuous flow of water therethrough. Leading from the scrubber is a pipe 18 adapted to convey the purified gas to the receiver, not shown.

Located centrally within the brickwork is a retort 19 made preferably of fire clay which passes vertically downward from the top of the casing through the checker work, and is provided with a curved portion 20 at its lower end which passes through the combustion chamber and outwardly through the rear of the casing; the lower end of said retort communicating with a (lischarge opening 21 formed through a suitable casting 22 which is secured by bolts 23 to the casing. The discharge opening through the casting 22 is closed by a lid 24 which is hinged at 25 to a bracket 26, extending from said casting, and having hinged at 27 to the outer end thereof a cross bar 28 whose outer end is adapted to be confined under a link 29 hinged at 30 to the casting 22. Passing through the cross bar 26 is a screw 31 which bears upon the lid 24 and, through the pressiue exerted thereon, holds the lid firmly over the discharge opening of the retort to prevent any escape of gas therefrom during the process of generation.

Fitting upon the upper end of the retort is a hopper 32 having a cut-off slide or gate 33 across the throat thereof, whereby the gaseous contents of thc retort may be confined therein.

Connected with the upper end of the retort, through the hopper below said slide, is a pipe 34 which communicates with a three-way valve 35 in the vertical pipe 36, the upper end of which communicates through the T- coupling 37 with the pipe 12, and the lower end of which passes downwardly through the checker work and combustion chamber, and is provided with a horizontal end portion 38 which extends under the grate and is perforated to allow of a discharge of the steam or vapor therefrom.

Both the stoke opening and the draft opening are closed by means of lids 39 hinged to brackets 40 mounted upon the castings forming the wall of said openings, and are adapted to be held closed by the screws 41 which pass through the cross bars 42 also pivoted to the brackets 40 and adapted to receive the links 43 which embrace their free ends to retain them in place, while the screws are applied to the lids 39 to forcibly close them in a manner to prevent an entrance of air to the combustion chamber.

In the operation of this device the lids 39 are opened so as to permit the fuel to be introduced through the stoke hole, and to allow a draft to enter the ash pit below the grates. After the fuel upon the grates has burned to an incandescent heat, the stoke hole and the draft opening to the ash pit are closed by their respective lids when the peat, or other substance from which gas is to be formed, is introduced into the retort and through the hopper, when said hopper is closed by the slide 33. The slide 11 is also closed, which prevents the escape of the caloric current out the smoke pipe.

to the scrubber, and thence to the receiver.

The three-way valve 35 is turned so as to connect the pipe 34 with the downwardly extending portion of the pipe 36, and the plug cock valve 13 is opened so as to connect the'chamber 9 with the pipe 12.

As peat, and the other materials mentioned, contains a high percent. of moisture, the initial product therefrom in the retort is steam which enters the pipe 34and passes downwardly through pipe 36 to the periorated horizontal pipe 38, from which it is discharged in the form of vapor below the grates and passes upwardly through the incandescent fuel 'thereon and through the checker work of refractory material. The presence ol the intense heat decomposes the vapor, and the heated surface over which it passes causes it to part with its oxygen which combines with the carbon oi the coke to form carbon monoxid the separated hydrogen with the carbon monoxid forming water gas which passes out of the chamber 9 through the pipe 12 Alter the moisture has been driven from the peat, the three-way valve 35 is turned so as to connect the pipe 34' with the pipe 12 and the plug cock 1.3 is closed. The slide ll. is then drawn out to allow the passage of the caloric current through the pipe 10, the draft aperture is then opened, and, if necessary, fuel is added to the [ire to produce sul'licient heat in the retort, or generator, to

drive the heavier gas from the material therein which passes out of the retort through the pipes 34- and 36 into the pipe 12, and thence into the scrubber, whence it passes to the receiver wherein it unites with the water gas initially generated, forming a fixed gas of 'fair illuminating power, and adaptable for use as fuel.

After all of the gas has been driven from the material in the generator the lid 24 maybe opened and the residue removed from the retort, when, by closing said lid, the parts are made ready for a succeeding operation.

By means of this apparatus all of the gaseous products of the material are utilized, as the moisture lirst liberated from the material may be converted into water gas and the heavier hydrocarbon gas which follows may be mixed therewith forming a fixed gas for commercial purposes which may be produced at a comparatively low cost.

Having thus fully set forth my invention, What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:--- I 1. 1n a gas generator, the combination of a suitable casing, a combustion chamber therein having a suitable grate, a checker work above the combustion chamber, a retort, a pipe leading from the top of the retort down \vardly through the combustion chamber, said pipe having a perforated end portion extending under the grate, a gas chamber above the checker Work, a pipe leading therefrom,

a scrubber into which the last named pipe leads, and means for connecting the upper end of the retort directly with said pipe.

2. in a gas generator, the combination of a suitable casing, a combustion chamber therein having a suitable grate, a checker work above the combustion chamber, and a second chamber above the checker work, a gas pipe leading from said second chamber, and a scrubber with which said pipe connects, a vertical pipe leading down- \vardly through the combustion chamber and under the grate, a retort passing downwardly through the checker work and combustion chamber having means for closing the ends thereof, and means for connecting the upper end of the retort alternately with said downwardly extending pipe, and with the pipe leading to the scrubber.

3. In a gas generator, the combination with a suitable case, a combustion chamber therein, a grate at the bottom of said chamber, a retort passing vertically downward through the case, and having a curved lower end that passes through the combustion chamber, and opens upon the exterior of the case, a gas pipe leading from the upper end of the combustion chamber, a scrubber with which said pipe communicates, a pipe leading from the upper end of the retort and passing downwardly having a lower perforated portion which lies under the grate, and means for connecting the upper end of the retort directly with the pipe leading to the scrubber.

In testimony whereof, I- sign this specification in the presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT M. BIDELMAN.

Witnesses E. S. Wnnnmrn, M. C. POOLE. 

